Advanced Practice Nurse DNP Program

Advanced Practice Nurse DNP

Frequently Asked Questions

Curriculum Overview

UCF’s Advanced Practice Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) track is offered online in a part-time format, starting in either fall or spring.  

The track includes 42 credit hours in online asynchronous instruction, two required virtual DNP intensives per year and a total of 1,000 clinical hours post-baccalaureate, which are required to award a DNP degree.  

DNP student must complete a total of 1,000 clinical hours. Students may be eligible to transfer some hours from their MSN curriculum and must complete a minimum of 360 hours during the program. Additional clinical hours may be required to meet the required hours. See plans of study below and Verification of Clinical Hours form. 

Integral components of the program will include translating current evidence into practice and designing, implementing and evaluating new models of care. 

Students will take coursework incorporating the domains, concepts and competencies delineated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials (2026). 

Sample plans of study are below. View current information on tuition and costs for UCF Online graduate programs. 

Application Requirements

To apply to UCF’s Advanced Practice Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) track, you must meet the following:

• Fulfill general UCF graduate admissions requirements (see Admissions section of the UCF Graduate Catalog).
• BSN and MSN degrees from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent.
• MSN degree in an APRN specialty role or a post-MSN certificate (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife). Applicants not holding the appropriate MSN degree may enter the DNP program through one of the three post-BSN to DNP degree tracks: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner or Family Nurse Practitioner.
• An unencumbered Florida or Florida multistate RN and APRN license.
• APN certification or the ability to obtain certification in the first semester of enrollment.
• No GRE required.

Students in UCF’s Advanced Practice DNP track must reside in and be physically located in the State of Florida for the duration of the program. Clinical placements occur within the Central Florida service area.

Please note: Online programs do not meet immigration requirements for students holding an F1 or J1 Visa to maintain status. If you have questions, please contact UCF Global at global.ucf.edu or call 407-823-2337. 

Admissions Process

Ready to apply? You will need the following:

• Schedule an appointment with a UCF College of Nursing graduate program advisor to discuss your goals for graduate study. (Strongly recommended but not required.)
• Official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
• Curriculum vitae (CV) reflecting prior education, recent clinical and/or practice accomplishments, any recent scholarly work (publications, presentations, grants and/or research participation), awards and scholarships received, additional professional certifications, volunteer activities, and membership, leadership and activities with professional organizations and community service organizations. For recent graduates, this can include accomplishments as a student.
• Three professional recommendations.
• Written essay, 500 words or less, double spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins addressing the following:
• Describe how earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice in the track to which you applied will help you achieve your personal and professional goals.
• Explain those personal and professional experiences that have helped prepare you for doctoral study and your readiness for doctoral study at this time.
• The final DNP project focuses on the implementation of an evidence-based change that impacts healthcare outcomes through direct or indirect care from a systems or population/aggregate focus. Describe an area of interest you believe could be improved through such a project.

An interview with faculty may also be required. 

Admissions are decided by a committee of faculty and staff within the College of Nursing based on an applicant’s overall grade point average (GPA), GPA of the last 60 hours of undergraduate program, CV and written essay.